Beyond Second-Generation Catalogs - A Beginning

Antelman, K., Lynema, A. & Pace, A. K. (2006). Toward a Twenty-First Century Library Catalog. Information Technology & Libraries, 25(3), 128-139.

Toward a Twenty-First Century Library Catalog, written in 2006, is a welcome acknowledgement and attempt to overcome the pitiful state of contemporary online library catalogs. While research on the search characteristics of users has been ample and commercial websites and search engines have implemented various findings, little has changed in how library catalogs have been designed over the last two decades. North Carolina State University (NCSU) Libraries began a project in 2004 to use Endeca’s Information Access Platform (IAP) to create an online catalog approaching ideals of a “next-generation” catalog. Primary additions to the Endeca catalog can be discussed as “three main areas: relevance-ranked results, new browse capabilities and improved subject access” (p. 129). Examples include adding a spelling correction feature, a “Did you mean…” feature, a variety of sort options (including “most popular” and “more titles like this”), and a browsing option (the Endeca catalog is limited to LC classifcation browsing, but future options include browsing by format or language). Significantly, the user interface was designed to allow for searching with the new features of the Endeca catalog, but also allow for authority searching with SirsiDynix’s Web2. This provides increased user search options, as well as the opportunity to analyze and compare the two search functionalities.

I was struck by how thoroughly NCSU researched and considered the consequences of each functionality that was added or rejected. Designers often succumb to the tendency to go with the flashiest or newest technology while forgetting to explore what may be lost with the older technologies. The NCSU team appears to have given equal consideration to what would be gained with new features as well as what could be lost with older features. An example of this is the inclusion of authority searching options. The usability testing conducted by the team showed that the new keyword search tools performed on a par with the original authority search tool. However, the team acknowledged that authority searching allows for other functions not commonly used by library patrons and not replaced by the newer keyword functionality. As a result, the team retained the authority search option, at least until another tool is designed which retains all these features. This honest and thorough evaluation is important whenever a replacement or updating of technology will occur: it places the purpose of the tool and the wants and needs of the user (including patrons and library staff) above the trendiness or flashiness of the new technology.